Dozens of Meriden residents took their protest against a gypsy camp to Birmingham High Court on Thursday morning.

They lined the streets outside Birmingham’s Priory Courts on Bull Street as travellers prepared for their own legal challenge in doors.

The travellers led by Noah Burton were appealing against their eviction by the Secretary of State for communities Eric Pickles.

Protesters outside the court led by the group Residents Against Inappropriate Development chairman David McGrath held banners that read ‘dismiss the appeal’ and they chanted ‘protect the Meriden gap, the Meriden gap, protect the Meriden gap.

Mr McGrath said: "When the community, local council, planning inspectorate and Secretary of State say your attempts to force development in the countryside is wrong, you should do the decent thing."